Not many were happier to hear of Kane Wilson making the switch to Bristol City than his old manager Tony Pulis.
For the ex-Robins boss, it has never been in doubt that the 22-year-old would make a career for himself at the highest level after picking him out from the West Brom academy at the age of 16.
It was six years ago when Wilson caught the eye of Pulis after the Baggies encouraged academy players to come and train with the first team twice a week. He was one of four players alongside ex-City loanee Jonathan Leko and Sam Field who the manager would focus his attention on to help them fulfil their potential.
Not many players at that age can claim they have played against Paris Saint-Germain when he was introduced as a substitute in a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2016, facing up to the likes of Lucas Moura and David Luiz. A month after, Pulis handed Wilson his professional debut when he was introduced in the EFL Cup defeat at Northampton for the final 20 minutes of action.
It was only 48 hours later when the wing-back was picking up his GCSE results: Two As, four Bs and five Cs. Wilson's whirlwind week would continue when he was named on the substitute bench in West Brom's Premier League clash with Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns. If he had entered the pitch, he would have created history as the first player born since 2000 to play in the top flight.
"Kane had everything to be a top player," Pulis told Bristol Live. "Technically he was excellent, and he's really quick and strong. He's a really, really good player.
"He was a boy who always wanted to do more, always willing to do more after training. He played with a smile on his face and I can't talk highly enough of him.
"There were four lads, who I gave debuts to and I thought they would all make good careers for themselves. One or two of them would end up developing later than the others but Kane had everything to be a top player."
Wilson made three competitive appearances under Pulis until the signing of full-back Kieran Gibbs in the summer of 2017 pushed the full-back further down the pecking order. After taking him on the pre-season tour of Austria, Pulis took Wilson aside and encouraged him to go out on loan and on transfer deadline day, a temporary switch to League One Exeter City was agreed.
"He just needed experience as much as anything else," Pulis added. "It's great for the kids to get out and play football as quickly as they can because they mature more.
"For all what the academy is and what it isn't, the most important thing for me - if the lads are strong enough at the age of 16/17, going out and playing men's football and playing with a crowd and playing where the result really counts, learning the rigours of playing well and playing badly and learning with different managers, different coaches, it just adds to their development and it's been lovely to see Kane develop over the past few years."
Wilson's Exeter debut didn't quite go to plan after picking up the first red card of his career during a 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town. It was an experience he would later admit he learned a lot from before going on to make 22 appearances in total as the Grecians narrowly missed out on promotion following a play-off final defeat.
Pulis was sacked in November of the 2017/18 campaign, replaced by Alan Pardew and subsequent loan spells with Walsall, another with Exeter and Tranmere Rovers would follow before he would leave West Brom for Forest Green on a free transfer in the summer of 2020.
Wilson starred last season in Forest Green's promotion to League One, earning the accolade of League Two's Player of the Season. As he approached the end of his contract, he wasn't short of offers but his love of the West Country following his time with Exeter, Forest Green and holidays in Paignton helped convince Wilson that his future belonged in the Championship with City.
Pulis believes it's a perfect match. He added: "He's a fantastic lad, a great attitude, a lovely kid off the pitch and he's got all the attributes and tools to be a top player. Bristol City is a great move for him."
While Wilson's future has been ironed out, what's next for Pulis? The former Stoke boss has been without work since his short stint at Sheffield Wednesday just under two years ago when he was dismissed after winning just once in his opening 10 matches.
Although the 64-year-old gave no indication he was stepping back into the dugout anytime soon. He added: "I'm quite happy where I am now, we've got seven grandchildren, I do different bits and pieces for people and do enough to keep myself busy. I'm just trying to enjoy myself as much as I can now."
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